Apparatus for clipping oats



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' W. W. INGRAH-AM.

A APPARATUS FOR OLIPPING OATS, &c.

No. 416,335. Patented Dec. 3, 1889.

mznesse I j fky io" )h'llz'am )ffizyraam 54%. M 5

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. W. INGRAHAM. APPARATUS FOR GLIPPING OATS, &c.

No. 416,385. Patented Dec. 3, 1889! Ill N. PETER5.'FhaIoLiIhu nphan Waah'mglon. n.0,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM IV. INGRAHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR CLIP'PING OATS, 80G.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,335, dated December 3, 1889.

Application filed March 6, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM \V. ING-RAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and use.- ful Improvement in Apparatus for Clipping Oats, &c., which is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention, a portion thereof being broken away to show the internal construction; Fig. 2, a detail side elevation, partially broken away; Fig. 3, a plan seption taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, an enlarged transverse sectional View taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3; Fig, 5, a detail sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a detail plan section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, an enlarged ele-.

vation of the lower part of the drum or cylinder; Fig. 8, a detail plan view of one of the sections removed from the drum; Fig. 9, an elevation of the same; Fig. 10, a detail plan view of one of the sections of the lining detached; Fig. 11, an elevation of the same; Fig. '12, an elevation of a modification, and Fig. 13 a sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 12.

Like letters refer to like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

My'invention relates to apparatus for clipping, polishing, and securing oats, or forpolishing and scouring grain of other kinds, and more particularlyto the construction of the clipping and polishing cylinder and its co-operating parts.

My present invention isin the nature of an improvement upon the several constructions set forth in Letters Patent No. 98,266, dated December 28, 1869, and No. 130,804, dated August 27, 1872, both granted to 'J C. Hunt and myself, and Letters Patent No. 179,198, granted to me June 27, 1876.

It is the object of my present invention to improve the various structural features of the machine set forth in said prior Letters Patent so as to cause the machine to operate more effectively and enable it to obtain superior results.

To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features,which I will now proceed Serial No. 302,111.

(No model.)

to describe, and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the drawings I have shown a structure embodying not only my present improvements, but also certain other features of novelty which form the subject-matter of an application filed by me January 31,1889, Serial No. 298,266, to which application reference is made for a description of such features as are not herein referred to or fully set forth.

A represents a vertical shaft mounted in suitable bearings and driven by anysuitable source of power at a high rate of speedfor instance, from five to six hundred revolutions a minute. Upon this shaft is secured the cylinder B, which is a closed cylinder, and may be made solid, although, for obvious reasons, I prefer the hollow form shown. This cylinder carries on its outer surface the wallowers C, which are constructed and applied thereto in the manner hereinafter described.

D represents a base-plate arranged immediately below the cylinder B and serving to support the casing which surrounds said cylinder. This casing is double, there being an inner casing E and an outer casing E, both imperforate, the former arranged close to the cylinder and the latter surrounding the former and arranged at some little distance from the same, forming between them an air-space c. This air-space is closed at the top by a ring or cover 6', and at the bottom, except as hereinafter specified, by the base-plate D. The casing E is provided on its inner face with a lining F, constructed in the manner hereinafter set forth, and forming a concave, which co-operates with the wallowers C on the cylinder B. A space of three-eighths of an inch is left between the faces of the said concave and wallowers at their nearest point. The cylinder B does not extend upward quite so far as the casing, there being thus formed a clear space in the top of the easing into which the grain is fed by means of the inclined spouts G.

H represents the separating-chamber, the blast-fan II of which creates a strong draft of air through the separating-trunks G from the casing to the separating-chamber. The inclined spouts G lead from the trunks G to the cylinder and casing, and they are each provided with a valve g, which may be turned either into the position shown at the right of Fig. et to direct the grain to the casing and cylinder, or into the position shown at the left of said figure, in which case the grain passes downward throughan opening g into a direct downward conductor G which passes outside of the cylinder and easing. At each side of the machiiiethere is arranged a valvechamber 1, extending from front to rear a distance almost equal to the diameter of the cylinder. The side walls of each valve-chamher are formed by the framing A of the machine. The top is formed by the base-plate and the bottom by an inclined plate i, which serves to discharge the grain into the separating-trunks 1. Within each of the val veehambers I arranged a valve J, which is secured upon the shaft j, which extends forward to the front of the machine, and is provided with an arm or lever j, upon which is mounted an adjustable weight J, substantially as in Letters Patent No. 130,804, hereinbefore specified. The shaftj, which forms the fulcrum of the valve, is, however, not arranged at the top of the valve, as in said prior Letters Patent, but at a point near the bottom of the valve, for the purposes hereinafter specified. These valves J are of less width than the valve-chambers in which they are located, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5, so that a clear space is left on each side of said valve for the passage of air through the discharge-opening i" when the valve closed.

Above each valve 3 there is formed through the base-plate l) a slot or opening (I of a length about equal to the width of the valve, and of a width about equal to the space between the face of the concave or lining F and that of the cylinder B, and conforming in curvature to these parts. There are also formed through the base-plate 1) a series of slots (1 and (1 arranged below the space 6 and communicating therewith. The slots (Z are formed in those portions of said plate which are above the valve-chambers l, and establish communication between said chambers and the space e, while the slots (1 are located at the front and rear, where the bot tom of the plate is not covered by the valvechambers, and these latter slots establish communication between the space and the outer air.

"he wallowers are omitted from the extreme lower portion of the cylinder 15, and there are mounted on this portion of said cylinder sweeps L, which project from the face thereof outward far enough to extend about half-way over the slots or openings (Z, as shown. The wallowers are constructed in the manner shown in detail in Figs. 7, S, and 0. Each wallower consists of a base a, by means of which it is connected to the cylinder D and a horizontal body 1:, provided with radial corrugations or grooves. The forward edge of this body is notched, as shown at So far as these features are concerned the construction is substantially that of my prior r patent, No. lTttltJS, except that the arrangementof the body of the wallower ishorizontal instead of inclined. Extending from the front inner edge of the body c diagonally outward is a row of vertical pins 0", both on the upper and under side of said body, and in the rearof these pins there is formed a diagonal vertical rib 0", both on the upper and under side of the body, these ribs terminating in an enlargement If, the front; face of which is substantially radial to the cylinder and consequently parallel to the corrugations of the body 0. These wallowers are arranged in spiral rows around the cylinder, so that, beginning at the bottom, each allowcr is arranged slightly in the rear of the one below it-in the same row. The bodies of the wallowers being shorter than their bases, there is thus formed between the spiral rows 0 corresponding spiral air-spaces Win the face of the cylinder, extending from bottom to top thereof.

The lining F is preferably constructed in sections, and may be either such as is shown in liigs. 10 and l] or shown in liigs.12and 1 3. In each case it is grooved or corrugated. In the former construction each section 1:" is provided, except at its ends, with vertical grooves f, interrupted by horizontal ribs f The end portions of each section are provided with horizontal grooves f and are beveled 011 at their extremities, as shown atf". The Sections are mounted upon the inner face of the casing E in horizontal rows end to end, so that the beveled ends of the sections form where they meet vertical pockets, the sections of each row being arranged to break joints with the sections composing the rows above and below it, so that these pockets do not extend contiiuiously from top to bottom of the casing.

In the modified form of lining shown in Figs. 12 and 13 each section F is provided with corrugations or grooves extending both horizontally and vertically, as shown, these corrugations where they meet or intercept forming a series of pockets f over the whole face of the section. These two forms of lining may be employed either singly or in combination, and in this latter case I prefer to employ for the upper part of the casing the form shown in Figs. 10 and 11, for the reason that it admits the grain more freely, the form shown in Figs. 12 and 13 being employed upon the lower part of the casing.

The machine thus constructed operates in the following manner: By properly turning the valves 1 the grain from either or both of the separating-trunks G may be directed through the inclined spouts G into the easing, and will pass down slowly between the cylinder and easing, at the same time being carried around at a high rate of speed. The blast-fan ll, by its suction through the trunks G, exhausts the air in the upper part of the casii'ig, thereby causing a strong current of air to pass upward between the cyl- ITO ' inder revolves, also tends to cause a current of airto pass upward through the said air spaces independently of the suction of the fan. The notched front edges of the wal lowers engage with the grain,and as this latter passes over the body 0 the pins 0 and ribs 0 tend to throw the grain out toward the lining, while the radial corrugations of the body causes the grain to assume such a position that each individual grain has'its longitudinal axis radial to the cylinder. The object of this is to cause the grain to be tumbled over end over end between the wallowers and the concave or lining, so as to clip or break off the spur or barb thereon[ The grain which is not thus carried radially outward passes off at the rear end of each wallower and diagonally downward across the airspace 0 to the wallower below it in the next row. hile passing through said space the grain is of course subjected to the action of the current of air passing upward through the same, and the impurities are thus carried off. The enlargement c at the end of the rib c is for the purpose of preventing said end from being rapidly worn away by the friction of. the grain. The action of the lining or concave E upon the grain is somewhat similar to that just described. hen the form shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is used, the grain accumulates in the pockets formed by the meeting of the beveled ends of the sections, and, being carried out of said pockets as it accumulates, it is caused to assume an endwise position by the horizontal grooves f being then tumbled end over end over the vertically-grooved surface with which the rest of the section is provided. V hen the formshown in Figs. 12 and 13 is used, the grain simply tumbles end over end from pocket to pocket. Whenever the grain rests in a pocket, it remains there until crowded out by the accumulation of other grain, and .during this process the friction of the grain upon itself serves to thoroughly scour and polish the same. It will be understood, of course, that during this portion of the operation the valves J are closed, so that the grain accumulates in.

the casing and the cylinder revolves in a mass of grain, substantially as in my prior Letters Patent. As the grain passes downward and reaches the bottom of the cylinder it passes out through the slots or openings d in the following manner The sweeps L when they engage with the grain at the bottom of the cylinder throw it radially outward, their action in this respect being to give the grain a centrifugal tendency, while at the same time it is carried around until it reaches the slots d. The grain .passes downward through the slots through their outer portions, or, in other words, those portions immediately adjacent to the lining or concave F, the inner half of each slot being kept comparatively clear of grain by the said centrifugal action just mentioned. This leaves a clear space extending along the entire inner half of each slot (1, through which air is drawn up from the valve-chamber I into the casing, through which latter it passes up, as previously described. The valve J being shorter than the opening 1" thus leaves an air-space at each end of said valve, through which air may pass from the separating-trunk 1 into the valve-chamber when the valve is closed. A further supply of air for the valve-chamber is obtained by means of the slots d and 61 the air being drawn from the outer atmosphere into the space 6 through the slots (1 and being then drawn from said space into the valve-chamber through the slots d. A plentiful supply of air is thus obtained, which enters the casin g at the bottom through the same orifices at which the grain is discharged and passes upward between the cylinder and casing directly through the grain as it is being operated upon, thereby carrying off all impurities and light particles and delivering them to the separating-chamber.

The resistance which the valves J offer to the discharge of the grain is of course regulated, as in my prior Letters Patent, by adj usting the weights J upon the arms j. By locating the fulcra of these valves below instead of at the top I not only render them much more sensitive, but the heel of the valve is also prevented from swinging inward toward the wall of the valve-casing, as it does when the valve is suspended from the top, in which latter case portions of the grain are frequently jammed between the heel of the valve and the wall of the valve-casing, thereby preventing the Valve from opening to its full extent, clogging the machine, and damaging the grain.

It is obvious that various modifications in the details of construction may be made without departing from the principle of my invention, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting myself strictly to the precise details hereinbefore described, and shown in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,.

1. The combination, with the cylinder provided with wallowers on its upper portion, and the inclosing-casing, of the base-plate provided with slots d, and the sweeps L, mounted on the lower part of the cylinder and extending partially over said slots, whereby the grain is dis-charged and the air admitted simultaneously through said slot-s, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination, with the cylinder and its casing, the exhaust-fan, the valve-chambers, and air-inlets between said chambers and casing, of the valves arranged within said casing and having a width less than the width of said chambers, whereby air is ad mitted into the said clnunbers when the valves are closed, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination, with the cylinder 13 and double casing E, of the valre-chambers I and the intermediate base-plate 1), pro vided with slots d between the valve-chamber and the space between the cylinder and easing, slots d between the valve-chambers and the walls of the casing, and slots (1 between the walls of the casing and the outer air, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

+L. The combination, with the cylinder and its easing, of the valves to receive the grain as itpasses from the cylinder and casing, and the shafts j, carrying said valves and pro vided with weighted arms, said shafts being connected to the valves below their body portions, substantially as and for the pnrposes specified.

The mnnlnnation, with the cylinder and casing, ol. the wallowers mounted on said cylinder, and each consisting of a horizontal body provided with diagonal series of vertical pins, snlmtantially as and For the purposes speeilicd.

t3. The combination, with the cylinder and its easing, of the wallowers mounted on the cylinder, and each provided with a horizontal body having the curved or inclined ribs c, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. The combination, with the cylinder and its casing, of the wallowers mounted thereon and each consisting of a horizontal body provided with curved or inclined ribs 0, provided with terminal enlargements 07, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

\VILLIAM \V. INGRAIIAM.

it-nessesz ABBIE M. BEST, IRVINE )IILLER. 

